Rare snake bred at London zoo

LONDON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The London Zoo is celebrating eight blessed events -- the hatching of a clutch of rhino rat snakes, a rare species from Southeast Asia.

This is believed to be the first time the snake has been bred in captivity in Europe, The Telegraph reported.

The rhino rat snake, Rhynchophis Boulanger, gets its name from its pointed nose, which resembles that of a rhinoceros. Scientists say the nose may have evolved to help the snake catch water in the rain forests of Asia.

The snakes, also known as green unicorns, grow to be about 3 feet long. They are a gray color at birth that changes to green when they are about a year old, and as adults they feed on frogs, geckos and rodents.

"They are one of the cutest snake you ever saw," Ian Stephen, the assistant curator of herpetology, said. "If anyone comes to the zoo who does not like snakes, they warm to the rhino snake. It is a really beautiful and interesting so it is great we have managed to breed it."

The Zoological Society of London has already transferred three of the newborns to other zoos as part of exchange programs.